Lake County Financial Administrative Committee Meeting - June 4, 2026

The Financial Administrative Committee (F&A) of Lake County, Illinois, met on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 8:31 AM. The meeting was called to order by Chair Frank with a quorum present. Notable actions included approval of a collective bargaining agreement for correctional sergeants, adoption of a records management policy, and detailed annual updates from the Finance and County Administration departments. The meeting adjourned until July 9, 2026.

Consent Calendar

• Items 8.1 through 8.25 were approved en bloc by a voice vote with all in favor and no opposition. Items 8.1 and 11.1 were postponed to the next meeting because the attachments were not posted in time, failing to meet public posting requirements.
• Closed session minutes (items 10.2 and 11.1) were not reviewed or acted upon as no closed session minutes were available.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received.

Discussion Items

• 8.26 – Insurance Broker Services Contract: Resolution authorizing a contract with Alliant Insurance Services of Chicago for insurance broker services. The contract is for an initial one-year term plus four additional one-year renewals at an annual fee of $79,500. The fee covers policy renewal, claims advocacy, risk control, and loss prevention. The previous broker was the same, at $73,000 annually; the increase was noted as competitive with other bidders. Approved by voice vote.
• 8.27 – Collective Bargaining Agreement – Correctional Sergeants: Resolution authorizing a three-year successor agreement between Lake County, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Metropolitan Alliance of Police (MAP) Chapter 777 (correctional sergeants unit), retroactive to December 1, 2025, covering 17 employees. The agreement establishes a climbing pay differential between correctional officers and sergeants: 6% in year one and 8% in years two and three, addressing wage compression. Additional cost in year one is approximately $116,000. It also adopts a longevity bonus structure (one-time payments of $1,000 to $2,500 at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years of service). Staff reported improved recruitment and retention for correctional officers, with a larger applicant pool. Members requested future data on vacancy and turnover rates. Approved.
• 8.29 – Records Management Policy: Resolution recommending adoption of a countywide records management policy for government-owned records. The policy creates a consistent framework for creation, maintenance, storage, and disposal of records; outlines departmental responsibilities; and ensures compliance with state laws (Illinois Local Records Act). Previously, practices varied across departments, resulting in retention of records beyond state timelines. Staff noted the policy was presented to the Policy Review Team with no concerns. An administrative directive and training will follow. Approved.
• 8.28 – Finance Department Annual Update: Chief Financial Officer Gina Tuzak presented the update. Key statistics for Fiscal Year 2025: 45 full bids/RFPs, 815 new vendor registrations, 1,500 purchase orders, procurement card spend over $6 million with 272 new cards issued, and 137 new travel cards implemented for Workday readiness. Central Financial Services processed 839 invoices totaling over $50 million for ARPA and 9,350 invoices for $116 million for 17 departments. The budget team received the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. Accounting achieved an unmodified audit opinion, maintained bond ratings, and increased electronic payment adoption from 48% to 55% of suppliers by count. Year-to-date activities include leadership in 13 finance-related workstreams for the new ERP (Workday) implementation, data cleanup (1,300 purchase orders reduced to 335), and ongoing initiatives such as ETSB dissolution, grant coordinator hiring, and fund balance reserve policy development.
• 8.30 – County Administration Annual Update: County Administrator Patrice Sutton presented the update. Notable departures include the Chief Communications Officer (Tammy Chapman, retiring June 8) and an executive assistant; the internal auditor position remains open after an unsuccessful recruitment. Accomplishments: policy review and updates, employee safety and emergency preparedness (drills and training resumed), Sheridan Crossing project, ADA transition planning, opioid settlement fund oversight, 90% satisfaction in internal services survey, ARPA closeout, 911 consolidation support, and emergency management being named 2025 EMA of the Year by Illinois ESMA. Communications statistics: 52 news releases, 437 board member newsletters (now reduced to one per month), 93% customer service satisfaction. Sustainability: over 2,000 native trees planted, bird-friendly design work, roadmap to decarbonization. America 250 program included a historical map, art and essay contest, and an Independence Academy with 22 residents. New program requests updated: FOIA records system expanded to Sheriff’s Office, Waukegan rooftop solar project facing scope challenges, STARCOM radio replacement in progress.
• Personnel Actions (Reported): The Sheriff’s Office is reclassifying a co-responder clinician from Grade 8 to Grade 10 (vacant, difficult to fill). The Courts are moving a staff psychologist position to an ungraded status due to recruitment challenges; a potential adjustment for existing staff in similar roles may follow. These actions were reported for information only, as the departments have independent authority.

Key Outcomes

• Item 8.26 (Insurance broker contract) approved by voice vote: all aye, no opposed.
• Item 8.27 (Collective bargaining agreement) approved by voice vote: all aye, no opposed.
• Item 8.29 (Records management policy) approved by voice vote: all aye, no opposed.
• Motion to go into executive session (10.1) for a personnel matter: motion by Member Clark, second by Member Hewitt. Roll call vote: all aye. The committee then returned to open session.
• Item 11.2 (Reclassification of TMC Manager, Division of Transportation, from Salary 10 to 13 with a one-time base pay increase of 25.8%): motion by Member Clark, second by Member Hewitt. Approved by voice vote: all aye, no opposed.
• Items 8.1 and 11.1 were postponed to the next F&A Committee meeting due to missing attachments.
• Meeting adjourned until July 9, 2026.